THE bedroom tax that is set to hit more than 30,000 on Tyneside has been attacked in a parliamentary motion.

MPs have warned ministers they risk forcing families out of their homes if they go ahead with plans to reduce housing benefit for those living in properties with spare rooms.

It follows a week of coverage in the Chronicle setting out how the bedroom tax will hit low income families across Tyneside.

That included Lesley Roberts, from Newbiggin Hall, who has been told she will not have enough to keep her home.

Instead she is having to downsize to a one-bedroom property, meaning she has no spare room for when her son returns from university.

She was just one of many who said they are being punished by the Government’s housing policy.

Now Gateshead MP Ian Mearns, who has taken the lead in mobilising MPs to the danger, has tabled a Commons motion calling on the Government to rethink its changes.

He said "I think that the Chronicle has done the right thing in alerting us to the serious impact of the Government's bedroom tax, which will penalise families for under-occupying their social home even if they have nowhere else to move to.

“I am most concerned that people deemed to be under-occupying their social homes will see their benefit cut by up to £88 per month.”

His motion says the changes will “have a devastating impact on families”.

It adds: “The region has the highest number of people deemed to be under-occupying; and this house urges the Government to commission detailed research into the impact of the bedroom tax in the North East and reconsider the policy in the light of this.”

Mr Mearns’ motion has won support from fellow MPs, with Durham’s Pat Glass and Blaydon’s Dave Anderson all signing up.

The National Housing Federation has also said Tyneside faces a big problem if the benefit plans are not adjusted to reflect areas with a large number of claimants.

The Department for Work and Pensions repeatedly stressed the move was a sensible way to address housing problems.

A spokesman said: “It’s right that tenants in social housing who are living in homes that are larger than their needs make a contribution towards their rent or move to more appropriately sized accommodation - and this is exactly what people renting in the private sector do.

“We do not expect many people to have to move as a result of these changes and local authorities can access £190m to help families as well as £30m a year specifically to support disabled people with an adapted property and foster carers.”